Razer's new Ornata keyboard implants mechanical and membrane technologies under same hood

For years, we’ve have a distinct line separating membrane keyboards from those that use mechanical switches. Now, the marketing experts at Razer have said, “why not both?” They just announced a new keyboard that introduces a new kind of switch that Razer calls mecha-membrane, a combination of mechanical and membrane key-switches.

According to Razer, this switch combines the best of both worlds; you get the soft, cushioned feel of a membrane keyboard with the crisp tactile feedback of a mechanical switch. And the company claims it keeps only the best of both. That means you get the pleasant and smooth button-pressing action of most modern membrane keyboards as well as the feedback and reliability of the classic mechanical style.

Other than that the Ornata, which is what the keyboard is called, also includes an ergonomic wrist rest, optional Razer Chroma RGB backlighting, 10-key rollover with anti-ghosting for 10 keys, and a dedicated gaming mode. Razer is also using mid-height keycaps for faster typing experience.

The Ornate Chroma is priced at $99.99 and the Ornate at $79.99. The Ornata is available now on Razer’s website for U.S. customers, and it will ship worldwide in October.